Mental health topics for non-therapist professionals
Behavioral health providers come from many different backgrounds with varying training and credentials. The behavioral health workforce includes: social workers, peer professionals, medical staff, addiction counselors, mental health therapists, and many others. Every role is important to help people feel better and live healthier lives.
This video series is for providers who are not trained as mental health therapists. The goal is to boost knowledge of mental health issues, especially those that are common in people with a substance use disorder. These videos were created by members of the ADAI State Opioid Response Training Team with funding from the WA State Health Care Authority.
Common Mental Health Disorders
Lara Okoloko, LICSW
July 2025
This 21-minute video explains the basics of the most common mental health disorders a provider might encounter while working with people who have a substance use disorder.
Lara Okoloko, LICSW
July 2025
This 11-minute video helps providers learn how to incorporate motivational interviewing and a “warm hand off” to improve the referral process.
Seeing and Interacting with Trauma
Lara Okoloko, LICSW
September 2025
This 26-minute video introduces providers to the core elements of trauma, natural recovery, and the DSM-5 symptom categories of PTSD. Providers can use this knowledge to guide trauma-informed interactions with their patients, to build safety and trust.
Lara Okoloko, LICSW and Mark Duncan, MD
October 2025
This 15-minute video gives providers information on psychosis, including: related mental health disorders, how it relates to substance use, and how to best support patients who experience psychosis.